'Our focus on career and technical education, hands-on learning, and meaningful one-on-one advisory conversations is making a real difference in students’ lives.'

-- Jeff Bullock, secondary programs and school improvement director

Class of 2025 graduates in record numbers

Jan. 29, 2026 / Klamath County School District is celebrating a record-high overall on-time graduation rate for 2025, marking a major milestone for students, staff, and the broader school community.

The district’s overall on-time graduation rate reached 86.7%, an increase of more than four percentage points from 2024 and 3.7 percentage points above the statewide average of 83%, according to data released Jan. 29 by the Oregon Department of Education.

“This is the highest districtwide graduation rate our district has achieved since the state started collecting on-time, cohort data, and it represents significant work by every one of our high school teams,” said Jeff Bullock, KCSD secondary programs and school improvement director. “Our focus on career and technical education, hands-on learning, and meaningful one-on-one advisory conversations is making a real difference in students’ lives.”

Four KCSD high schools posted graduation rates of 97% or higher in 2025: Mazama High School at 97.9%, Henley High School at 97.7%, Lost River Jr/Sr High School at 97.4%, and Bonanza Jr/Sr High School at 97%.

“Graduation is a shared accomplishment, and these results reflect the dedication of our students, the extraordinary commitment of our staff, and the support from our community partners and Klamath Promise,” said KCSD Superintendent Glen Szymoniak. “We are incredibly proud of the hard work happening across our district.”

Mazama High School led the district with its 97.9% on-time graduation rate, reflecting nearly a 10 percentage point increase since 2023 and more than a five-point increase from 2024.

“These results are the culmination of everything we’ve been intentionally building over time,” said Jennifer Hawkins, principal of Mazama High School. “It’s slow, consistent development of our practices and processes, paired with conscious relationships that keep students connected and successful. This kind of work doesn’t happen overnight.”

“Our mission is ‘The relentless pursuit of growth, knowledge, and character,’ ” she added. “That mission guides everything we do, and our graduation rates and test scores are beginning to reflect that collective focus.”

Vice Principal Sergio Cisneros emphasized that the school’s success reflects a shared commitment across all roles on campus. “From our cafeteria and custodial staff to paraprofessionals, teachers, and school leadership, everyone is pulling in the same direction to serve students,” he said. “When you make that consistency a priority year after year, you start to see it reflected in your data, and we’re seeing that now.”

Other KCSD schools also demonstrated strong outcomes. Chiloquin Junior/Senior High School increased its graduation rate by three percentage points to 89.7%, while Gilchrist Junior/Senior High School saw a more than 10 percentage point increase, reaching 80% in 2025. District leaders note that schools with smaller graduating classes can experience year-to-year percentage fluctuations.

Graduates who earn GEDs or extended diplomas do not factor into the on-time four-year graduation rate, but instead are considered completers. The district’s 2025 four-year completer rate was 88.1%, a nearly 3 percentage point increase from 2024.

KCSD’s rate includes Falcon Heights, an alternative high school for students who are behind on credits and at risk of dropping out. Falcon Heights, though tracking in at lower overall on-time graduation rates than the county’s six traditional high schools, has seen consistent increases over the past several years – from 29.49% in 2019 to 58.2% in 2025. Falcon Height’s four-year completer rate in 2025 was 62.7%.

Bullock also highlighted notable improvements among student groups, including American Indian students, students with disabilities, students experiencing houselessness, and students living in poverty, all of which saw graduation rate gains in the 5% to 10% range.

Looking ahead, KCSD will continue prioritizing academic rigor, student engagement, strong relationships, and expanded career and technical education and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) opportunities, while also addressing remaining gaps, including differences in outcomes between male and female students.

“This is a great report for KCSD,” Bullock said. “Each of our high schools is doing challenging work to support student graduation, and it is paying off.”